Although track and field’s second annual Rustbuster event was held at MVHS, a new face manned the athletic trainer’s tent this year. Instead of MVHS athletic trainer Javier Margarito, treating athletes and tending to injuries was Fremont HS athletic trainer Mary Rhatigan.
“I cover [FHS], my home [events], usually,” Rhatigan said. “[Javier] was going out of town, and since we were in the district you send out an email to our interdistrict [trainers]. So I’m covering for him.”
Although she was filling in for Margarito, she still had members of the MVHS Sports Medicine Club to help her out. However, with the exception of club president and junior Jaquelyn Loretto, all the other club members that offered their help were also running in events at the Rustbuster. Despite the low turnout, Loretto believes the event went well.
“It’s kind of slow,” Loretto said. “But Mary did really good filling in because Javier’s gone. I think it could have been better if Javier was here because he knows us better and he knows what we need and what our strengths are and I think he would have used us more I guess, but it’s not Mary’s fault. It’s more like comfortability.”
Junior and public relations officer Evelyn How, who also ran at the event, hopes to increase the turnout for next year’s Rustbuster event. She personally believes that the Rustbuster is where the majority of volunteers could help Margarito and gain experience with sports medicine. She volunteered at the event and helped Margarito last year, and for next time hopes the turnout could be improved.
“I would [promote] it a lot better,” How said. “Especially if not just at track meets, but then also at basketball games, football, wrestling, those kind of sports.”
Ultimately, Rhatigan did express interest in the idea of a sports medicine club at FHS. Although FHS has a kinesiology class, she isn’t involved with the curriculum. But she does occasionally have students who take that class come out and help her. Overall, Rhatigan is impressed by what MVHS has to offer.
“The club is fantastic,” Mary said. “I would think it would be really cool if they could get that started at [Fremont HS]. I’m not involved in the class unfortunately, so it’s kind of hard to combine that. I do have students and they’re awesome and they make my life easier, so I would love to have a more organized club.”
